Improved folding desk



UNITED `STATES J. F. MCNEE, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPRovED FOLDING DESK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,428., dated August15, 1865.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MGNEE, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented an Improved Folding Desk; and I do hereby declare thefollowing` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

My improved desk consists of pieces hinged and otherwise connectedtogether and arranged for being folded, substantially in the mannerdescribed hereinafter, so that the desk may be made to assume the formand afford the conveniences of an ordinary writing-desk, and, whennotreqnired for use, may be so folded as to occupy but little space,thus rendering it especially applicable for use in the army and inoffices and dwelling-houses where an ordinary desk required fortemporary use only would be iu the way.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will nowproceed to describe the manner ot' constructing the same.

On reference to thcaccompanying drawings, which form a part ot' thisspecification, Figure l isa vertical section of my improved foldingdesk; Fig. 2, the same as the desk appears when folded; Fig. 3, alongitudinal section of the desk on the line 1 2, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 afront ,View of Fig. 2.

Similar' letters referto similar parts throughout the several views. A

A represents the back of the desk, and to this back are permanentlysecured the two rear legs, B B.

To a rib, u, secured to and projecting from the back A, the bottom c isso hinged, atb, that it can he permitted to fall to the position shownin Fig. 2, under the circumstances described hereinafter. Two pieces, I)D, are hinged to the y back A, one near each end of the same, and

form the two ends of the desk, the hinges (l of these pieces being soarranged that the latter can be folded toward each `other and occupy aposition against the back A.

A longitudinal strip, E, is permanently secured to the upper edge oftheback A, and to this strip another strip, F, is hinged, the latter beinghinged ath to the inclined top g of the desk, this top resting ou theend pieces, D D, und on the front strip, H, which is hinged at t' to thebottom C of the desk.

To each of the front legs, I, is secured a piece, j, which is hinged tothe back A in such a manner that the said pieces j, with their legs, can

be folded toward each other and against the back A, in which case thefrontand rear legs are in a line with each other, as seen in Fig. 4.

A strip, J, is hinged at m to the bottom G of the desk, each end of thisstrip fitting into a recess cut in the upper portion ot' one of thefront legs.

When my improved desk is arranged for use the several parts occupy therelative positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the front legsbe-` ingmaintained in their proper position in one y direction by the strip Jand the other'by strips n n, one of which is secured to each end of thebottom C of the desk, and the end pieces, DD, v

and against the back A, after which the bottom C, with the stripsconnected to the same, will fall to the position seen in Fig. 2. Theendpieces, D D, are then folded toward each other and against the back A,therebypermitting the top G to fall and assume thevertical posi tionshown in Fig. 2.

It will be evident that as the desk, when i i thus folded, occupies butlittle space it is well adapted for transportation for use in thearm yand for small otiices, as well as `for dwellinghouses where an ordinarydesk requiredft'or temporary usewould be in the way. ,A

When the desk is required for a permanent fixture the legs may bedispensed with'a'nd the back A secured to a wall. i

I claim as myinvention and desire to secure i by Letters Patent--` l i vA desk composed of pieces hinged and otherwise connected together andarranged for be` ing folded, substan tially as and for the purposeherein set forth. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribin g witnesses.

JAMES E. MGNEE.

Witnesses: l

CHARLES E. Fos'rER` l JOHN WHITE.`

